Engine-starter.



J. E. PETERS.I

ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4| 1913.

3 sHEE'TssHEET 1.

j. B. PETERS. ENGINE STARTER APPLICATION FILED DECf4. X93 1 ,al @Q lsavnvd Jun@ i916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- J. B. PETERS.

Emme STARTER.

PPUCATN FILED DEC.4, 1913 1,185,931 Ihtened June 6, i916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

w/ nnss/5.5' /fv VEN roza a QZM/ JOHN B." PETERS, 0F

TOLEDO, QHIO, ASSIGNOB TQ THE ELECTRIC AUTOI-LITE COMPANY,

or 'ron-Eno, omo, A coEronATIoN- or omo.

ENGINE-STARTER.

To all Awhom t may concern: v 'Be it known that I, JOHN B. PETERS, a

citizen of the United States,'and a residentl of Toledo, in the county of Lucas yand State `0f` hio, have invented a certain new and useful Engine-Starter; and I do. hereby de? Clare theifollowing to be a full,` clear,l and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to malte and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theA characters of reference marked thereon,l which form a part of this specification.

jgines of automobiles, but is not restricted to such use as it may be used in any connection for which it may he adapted or appropriate.

The object of my invention is the provision of simpleand efficient. engine vstarting meansof the character described whereby to enhance the practicability andy commercial value thereof.

Further objects andadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

The invention isv fully described in the following specification, and while in its broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, 'preferred and two modified forms thereoffare illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichelFigure 1 is a plan view of an automobile engineand portions ofan associated chassis with my invention associated therewith. Fig. 2 is .a perspective'view of one embodi,v nient ofv my invention, with portions broken away and in section and with the parts thereofin normal positiorn. Fig-Sis a rear elevation of the starter gear and its carrying member, with thegear in driving' engagement with the engine fly-wheel or driven gear. Fig. .4 is an enlarged-detail of por tions-of the drive and driven gears., illnsy trating the formation of the teeth thereof. Fig; 5 is a perspective view of a ydifferent embodiment ofl theinvention, with portions broken 'away and removed and with the parts in normal position. Fig, (S is a rear elevation of.v the drive gear, 'its carrying parts andv ajportionof the driven gear with the'drivefgear in normal position Fig. 7 1s fa A- sideff elevation "of a rnanuall' .y1` controlled Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6v, 1916.

l Application filed December 4, 1913. Serial 110.804,72.

form of the .invention withr parts broken away. Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the drive gear, the carrying parts therefor and a portion ofthe driven gear of such form with the drive gear in normal position, and Figs." 9, 1Q and 11 are wiring diagrams respectively for the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 7.

Referring'to the drawings, l designates the frame of an automobile chassis; 2 an inlternal combustion engine carried thereby; 3 the engine flywheel,- which has its periphery provided with a circumferential series of gear teeth, and 4 the electric generator, which is suitably connected to the engine shaft whereby current is generated duringK a running of the engine, as is well understood inthe art. The generator 4 has leads 5 extending therefrom toa storage battery 6, which is customarily located on one of 'the running boardsof the automobile, but which may b'e disposed in any other suitable or convenient position. An underload circuit breaker 5a is disposed in the generator leads 5, whereby the battery remains cut off from the generator when less than a predetermined current is being generated thereby.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 in which .one embodiment of my improved starter plant is shown, 7 designates an electric motor which is preferably mounted adliacent tothe battery 6 so as to shorten the leads 8 between the battery and motor, wherebythe current loss between such parts is reduced to a minimum and the efliciency of the plant improved over the styles of plants in which the motor is located' adjacent to 4the engine and aconsiderable distance from the battery.

A switch is disposed inthe motor circuit, being mounted, in the present instance,'in a boX 9 lovcrlthe motor and having separate terminal parts 10 adapted to be connected by a sliding switch part 11. The switch part l1 is carried by al shift-rod 12 which movably extends through the boX and is operated ashereinafter described. -Any other suitable form ofswitch may be provided however, as desired.

The shaft 413' of the motor 7 extends forward therefrom and carries a small drivegear 14 at its forward end in position to mesh with the teeth on the fly-wheel or large. .gg-gear` 301ithe engine shaft, The shaft 13 is carried' adjacent'to the drive-gear 14 by the `inner forked end of a rocker-lever 15, which is journaledin a bracket 16 projecting from an adjacent frame part and is adapted, when with one or more universal joints 17. The` end of the lever 15, whichv is opposed to the shaft-carrying end thereof, projects outwardly from its fulcrum in the bracket part 16S-transversely of the chassis frame and is connected by an upwardly projectin rod or link member 18 to the free end o a forwardly projecting lever 'arm 19, which is fulcrumed in a fixed bracket or frame part 20 and has a rearwardly projecting arm 19.

A solenoid 21- is iixedly carried by a part of the bracket 16 below the lever arm 19, and has its movable plunger part 22 in connection with. such lever arm, as shown. The coil of the solenoid is in closed circuit,

' through leads 23, with the generator leads 5, at the generator side of the vcircuit breaker 5 whereby the solenoid will be energized upon a generating of current by the genera- 'l tor 4 when the battery is cut off, and the movable part 22 willV be attracted to move downward to communicate a throwing out movement to the vlever 15 and drive gear 14 carried thereby. v

The lever arm19, which is attached to and has movement with the lever. arm 19, has an apertured free end part 19b tl'-rough which the forwardendof a draft-rod 24 loosely projects forreciprocatory movements therein. This draft-rod has its rea-r end at tached to the switch-rod '1-2 and adj'ustably carries a collar 25 adjacent to its forward end. The collar 25, in the present instance,

' is yieldingly connected by a4 coiled contraci draft-rod 24 bythe action of the spring 26,-

tile spring 26 to the bracket-arm 27 extending from a cross-frame bar 28, such spring normally tending to maintain the. forward end of the rod 24'lowered in position for the rear end of the collar 25 to be engaged by the upper end of a rocker-arm 29 when .swung forward, whereby to communicate a switch closing movement to the switch-rod 12. The rocker-arm 29 rises from' a roek- -shaft 30, which is journaled, in the present either the clutch pedal or brake pedal customarily used in automobiles, or may constitute an-e'ntirely separate and independent pedal or operating part. A spring 22* may also be mounted on the plunger 22 to act alone, or to assist the'spring 26 in maintaining the parts in normal position.

The lowering of thef'orward end of the in addition to moving the collar 25 into register with the upper end of the rocker-arm 29, also rocks the lever 19-19in a direcopening position. It is evident tha/t while I v have provided a foot-pedal`31 and? connected rocker-arm 29 to be manually operated to communicate switch closing movements to the switch 1.0--11, any other suitable mechanism may be provided for such purpose as desired without departing from the spirit of the invention.

To facilitate the operation of my improved starter mechanism the teeth of the gears 3,and 14 are peculiarly formed, where-4 by the gear 14, when driven by theinotor, is adapted to impart an engineistarting movement to the gear 3, and such latter gear is adapted to throw `or force the. gear 14 outward from mesh therewith when the inertia or speed of driving of the gear 3 by the engine becomes greater than the driving action of the gear 14 thereon. For this reason the faces a, a (see Fig. 4)' of the teeth of the respective gears 3 and 14, lwhich have driving coaction when the gear 14 is acting asthe driver, are of standard-toothV form, while thev opposite faces'of such teeth lare inclined to V of the teeth of the gea-rs 3 and 1-1v whent-he gear 3 is acting as the driver is such as to alone throw the gear 14 out of mesh with the gear 3, or to assist the 'solenoid 21, when energized, in throwing the gear 14 to inoperative position. It will be understood that when the gear 14 is thrown out ofmesh with the gear 3, the solenoid 21, `which is then energized, acts to retain the, gear' 14 in inop-.F

erative position during the4 continued running of the engine, or so lon a the generator 4 is 'generating a suiiicie ."current to energize the solenoid for such purpose.

,A diagram of one form of 'wiring for the above form of my invention is illustrated in Fig. 9 and will be readilv understood. The

operation of thisformv of my invention is ns follows: When the engine, is at' rest the switch 10-11 stands open and the spring 26 causes the collar 25 to stand in losition to be engaged and mo'vedby the rocker-arm 29 upon a depression of the footl pedal 31. and also causes the draft-rod 24 to hold the' lever ISI-19 rocked in position to maintain the drive-gear 14 in mesh with the gear 3.' The circuit breaker 5 also stands open. To start the engine the operator depresses the foot-pedal 31 to move the draft-rod 24 formeneer e motor circuit 8 with the battery 6, where-l upon the motor 7 is driven to impart driving rotation to the gear 14 and a consequent turning of the gear 3 and crank-shaft orp 'he engine. When the engine is started and the gear 3 is driven at a greater speed than the driving speed ot' the gear 14. the faces lZ), of the gears 3 and 14 coact-to' cause an outward forcing of the gear4 from engagement with the gear 3, thus automatically disengaging the starting mechanism trom the gear 3. lVhen the gear 3 is driven at a suf'- ficient speed to cause such automatic disengaging of the starting mechanism therewith, the engine will be driving the generator 4 at a speed necessary for generating a suiiicient current in the solenoid line to energize the solenoid and maintain ythe gear 14 in inoperative position. The movement 'which is imparted to the lever 19-19 by the solenoid will also raise the forward end ot' the 'd'raft-rod24 a suflicient height to release the engagement of the collar :25 with the rockerarm 29, should the foot-pedal 3l be still depressed, thus permitting a retraction et' the draft-rod 24 and switch-rod 12 by the action of the spring 32 to switch opening position. Upon a stopping of the engine the current generating action of the generator 4 will cease thus permitting ademagnetizing of the solenoid `and a consequent movement of the .starter mechanism parts into position for the gear y14 to mesh with the gear 3,' and for the collar 25 to stand in position to be engaged by the rocker-arm 29 upon a rocking thereof so that the engine may be again started by the operator simply depressing the foot pedal 31.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated a sliO'htly modified form of my invention, the modification consisting in so arranging certain parts ot the starter'mechanism that the solenoid thereof willv serve to retain the parts in engine starting position instead of out of such position, as was thecase with the construction of starter above described. In this form ot' the invention 40 designates afoot or control-pedal having a rocker-arm 41 for engagement with al collar 4Q on the draft-rod 43 which has connection with the inovahle' partof a switch 44 in circuit with the start ing motor 45. rllhe draft-rod 43 has loose slidingconnection with one arm of a lever 46', the other arm [of which is connected to the plunger or movable partei? oi' asolenoid 48. The solenoid 48 lis disposed in circuit with the battery 6 ofv the machine through leads 4 9, having a. normally open switch 50 disposed therein', which switch is closed hy the depression of a push button l,l or in any other suitable manner, as yshown by the Wiring diagram in Fig. 10. A coiled compression vspring 52 is mounted on the outer end portion 'of the plunger 47 intermediate the solenoid case and the outer end of the plunger, and serves to urge the plunger 4T and lever 46 into position to hold the collar 4Q out of. the path of movement of the rocker-arm 41, and also to retain the starter .gear out of meshwith the gear of the engine, the gear being connected to the lever 45 through the ymedium of rocker lever 54 and linl; 55 in the same manner as described in connection with the form shown in Fig. Upon a closing of the switch 50, the battery circuit with the solenoid is closed and the plunger 4T attracted upward, *SherL iy moving the collar 42 into position to he engaged by the rocker-arm 4i. and movin-gi the starter gear into mesh with the engine gear 3. ',lhis heine; done the operator de'iresses 'the pedal 4G to close the i motor circuit whereby a driving action is communicated to the gear through the mot-or shaft lVhen the engine has vbeen properly started, the operator either eiiects or permits an opening of the switch 50 in the solenoid circuitso that the plunger 47 is no longer attracted oy the solenoid and is permitted to move downward under the action of the spring 52, thus moving the collar 42 out oi. rocker-arm engaging position and the gear 53 out of mesh with the gear The formation of the teeth oitv the gears 3 and 53m this vtorre of the in Avention are the same as shown in4 Fig. 4 to permit the gear 53 to have va drivingV action on the gear 3 when the latter is being driven by the starting motor, and to cause the gear to be thrown outward from engagementwith the gear 3 when the latter has attained a speed greater than the speld of drivingo" the gear by the motor.

ln the form illustrated in Fig. Z the parts of the starter mechanism, their arrangement and action are the same as with the form shown in Fig. 5, except that a foot or manually controlled pressure-rod is substituted for the solenoid of said latter form. ln 'this forni @O designates the starting meJ tor; Gl the motor-shaft carrying the start ing gear G2; 63 they rocker lever carrying the starting gear; 64 the rod connecting the lever (33 to the lever G5; 66 the motor switch; (3T .the draft-rod ttor the switch1 having its forward end 'noiliing through the rear end portion ot the lever 65 and carrying the ilo' collar or siouldered part G8, and SS `the .toot

pedal to which the rocker-arm"T0K for enen gaging the collar 68 is connected. :The control means lfor the lever G5 comprises, in the. present instaneea` pressure rod 7l, which attaches at its lower end to therear end )ortion oit the outside lever. and extends n l distance ahove the part" i2 'hyA the fis thereon of a coiled Compression spring 73.

This spring is disposed between the guide part 72 and the upper headed end of the pressure rod, and is of sulicient strength ,to normally maintain the gear 6:2 and collar 68 1n inoperative position. lUpon a depression of the-rod 71 the lever 65 is rocked to loiver the collar 68 into rocker-arm engaging position and to move the parts GS and 64 to throw the gear 62 into mesh with the gear 3. Upon a releasevof the pressure rod 71 the parts controlled thereby assume their normal ositions. It is evident that any other siiita le form of manually operable means for controlling the movements-of the lever maybe provided without departing from `the spiiit of the invention, the present means being slioivn on account'of its simplicity. A iviring diagram for this form of the invention is shoivn in Fig. l1, it being necessary to merely connect the generator 4 and motor 'T ivith the battery.

It is evident that I have provided a simple and efficient starter mechanism for internal combustion engines which is lcapable of being operated or of having its movements controlled in `various Ways, and which has one gear radially movable-into and out of mesh with another gear instead of axially sliding into and out of engagement therewith as is customary with a large number of' starter mechanisms of this type. `While this feature is considered important the invention is not restricted to such action as the gears might be engaged in other manners if desired. f

It is to `be, understood 'that the forms yshown are 'merely illustrative of the invention and that numerous vk.changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my inventi n, 'what I claim as neiv, and desire to secire by Letters Patent, isfl. In combination, nia driven member, a drive member movable into and out of e'ngagement with the driven member Vtransversely of its axis, means vfor rotating said drive member, means 'for controlling the actionof said member rotating means, and means embodying an electio-magnetic feature operable to control the movements of said drive' member into and out of engagement iviththe driven member.

2. In "combination, a driven member, a drive member movable into and out of engagement with the drivenl member 'transversely of its axis, a manually controlled motor for imparting rotation to said drive member, and mechanism operable to control the transverse movements of said drive member and embodying both mechanical and electrical features.

.3. 'In an engine starter, a driven member,

a drive member in ovable into ont of engagement with said driven member transversely of its axis. a manually controlled motor for imparting rotation to said drive member, and mechanism normally maintaiuingsaid drive member in one position 'of its transverse movement and electrically operable t `o movc the drive member from its normal position.

4. In an engine starter. a driven member, a drive member movable into and out of cngagemcnt with the driven member transversely of its4 axis, a flexible shaft for saidl drive member, an electric motor for driving said shaft, mechanism for controlling the transverse movements of said drive member, said drive and driven members having interengagingY parts ivhi'cli autoiiiati 'ally act to break the driving connection between said members ivhen the driven member has attained a predetermined speed.

5. In an engine starter, a driven member, a drive member movable into and out of engagement with the driven member transversely ot' its axis, an electric motor, a flexible shaft connecting said motor and drive member, and mechanism operable to control the transverse movements ot' said drive member and the action of said motor.

G. In an engine starter, a motor, a driven member, a drive member actuated by Vsaid motor and movable in to and out of engagement with the driven member ltransversely of its axis. and relatively to the motor, means for imparting rotation to the drive member, and mechanism for controlling the transverse movements ofthe drive lmember and having a rocker part carrying such member.

7. In an engine starter, a driven member, a drive member movable intov and out of engagement with the driven member transversely thereof, a manually controlledy the said motor and drive member, and mechanism operable to control the transverse movements of said drivefimember and the action of said motor, anldl, having a rocker part carrying said inem"` mr.

8. In an engine starter a driven member, a drive member movabl yintomiind out of engagementwith the driven memben'means for driving said drive member, mechanism motor, iexible shaft connection between operable to impart transverse' movements to. l

said Idrive member, and control meanshin part electrical, in connection ,with said mechanism normally operable'to maintain the mechanism in one position of its member actuating movements.

l9. In an engine starter, a. drive member movable into and', 'out o engagement with the driven membertraiisversel of' its axis, motor mean/s l/ravin a flexib eishaft carrying said driv ,y mem er, mechanism 'operable to, im a jtransverse movements to the drivemem4 a driven member,

fend control a. drive member movable into and out of en-` gagement with the driven member, mechanism'operable to impart shifting` movements to the drive member, control means for said mechanism normallymaintaining the mechanism in one position of its movement and operable to impart reverse movement thereto, an velectric motor for said drive member, a switch in circuit therewith, and means operable to close said switch when said mechanism is in a predetermined position of its movement.

. 11. In an engine starter, a driven member, a drive member movable into and out of engagement with the driven member, an electricmotor in driving connection with said -drive member, a switch inl circuit with said motor,'and mechanism operable to control theshitting movements of said drive member and the opening and closing movements of said switch and .having a control part which is manually operable to actuate a part of the mechanism to .close the switch when the drive member shifting part of the' mechanism is in a predetermined position of its movement.

12. In an enginev starter, a driven member, a drive member movable into and out of engagement therewith, an electric motor for said drive member, a'normally open switch in circuit with said motor,l and mechanism operable to control the shifting movements of said drive member and the closing movements of said switch and having means for controlling the movements ofthe memberv shifting part of the mechanism, and a control part which is manually operable to effeet a closing of the switch when the gearshifting part of. the mechanism is in a predetermined position of its movement.

13. In an engine starter, a driven member, a drive member movable into and out of engal-gement therewith, a motor for said drive member, mechanism operable to shift said drive member relatively to the mot'or, andcontrol means for said motor in connection with said mechanism and manually operable to render the motor active when said mechanism is ina predetermined position of its member shiftin movement.

14. In an engine starter, a driven member, a drive member movable into and out of engagement .with the driven member, mechanism operable to shlft said drive member, a motor for said drive member, and control mechanism for said motor having a part 1n connection a with said mechanism movable therewith in one direction and relative thereto'i'n another direction, said control means also having a manually operable element for position of its oscillatory movements.

engaging and moving said' part in one direction to render the motor active when said mechanism is ,in a predetermined point of its drive member shifting movement.

.15. In an engine sta-rter, a driven member, a drive member shiftable into and out of engagement therewith, mechanism operable to shift said drive member, avmotor for said drive member, control means-for the motor having an oscillatory and longitudinally movable part in connection with said -meclianism and having oscillatory,movements imparted thereto by movements of the mechanism, andmanually movable means operable to-engage and' impart longitudinal move'- mentsto said part wherebyto operate said control means-toA render the motor active when said part is in a predetermined position of its oscillatory m'ovement.

16. In an engine starter, a driven member, a drive member shiftable into and out of engagement with the driven member transversely of its axis, mechanism operable to shift said drive member, a lmotor for said drive member, control means for the motor having an oscillatory and longitudinally movable part in connection with said mechanism and having oscillatory movements imparted thereto by movements of the mechanism, and manually movable means operable to engage and impart longitudinal movements to said part whereby to operate said control means to render the motor active when said part is in a predetermined 17. In an engine starter, a driven member,. a drive member, a lever carrying the drive member Jfor movements into and out of. engagement with the driven member, a second le'ver, connection between said levers to impart rocking movements from one to the other thereof, means controlling the movements of vsaid levers, a motor for said drive member, and .manually controlled means operable to render the motor active.

18. In an engine starter, a driven member, a drive member, a rocker lever lcarrying said drive member for movements into and out of engagement with the drive member, a second rocker lever, connection between said levers for imparting rocking .movements from one to the other thereof, a motor for .said drive member, and control means for thel motor having a part in connection with and movable by one of said levers, and a part 'manually movable to engage' and move said first part when in one .positionl of its lever actuated-movement whereby to operate said means to render the motor active.

19. The combination with an Iengine and a rotatable 'piart' thereof, of a'drive member shiftable into and out of engagement with said part, an electric motor disposed at the rear of the engine and in driving connection with said member, a storage battery adjacent to said motor and in circuit therewith, a. normally open switch in circuit with said motor and battery, means for imparting shifting movements to said drive member, and means operable to close said switch.

20. The combination with an engine and artatable part thereof, of a drivemember for said part, means, operable to impart rocking movements to said member to place it into and out of engagement with said part, an electric motor disposed at the rear of the engine, a' Aflexible shaft connecting said motorand part, and means'for controlling the operation of said motor.

21. In an engine starter, a driven member, a drive member movablevinto and out of engagement with the driven member, mechanism operable to lmpart .shlftlng movements to the drive member, control means for said mechanism normally maintaining 20 the mechamsm 1u one position of lts movel JOHN B. PETERS. Witnesses:

F. E.,AUL,

P.' D. WAGNER. 

